Serena Williams is sharing a new chapter in her wellness journey.

The tennis icon, 43, revealed that she turned to a GLP-1 medication to support her weight-loss goals, a decision that helped her shed more than 31 pounds and, in her words, “feel light physically and light mentally.” She told to PEOPLE.

“I feel great,” Williams told PEOPLE. “I feel really good and healthy. I feel light physically and light mentally.”

Postpartum Struggles with Weight

Williams explained that her weight struggles began after giving birth to her first daughter, Alexis Olympia, in 2017. Despite maintaining the disciplined lifestyle of a professional athlete, her body responded differently after pregnancy.

“I never was able to get to the weight I needed to be no matter what I did, no matter how much I trained,” she said. “It was crazy because I'd never been in a place like that in my life where I worked so hard, ate so healthy and could never get down to where I needed to be at.”

READ: US Doctor Claims Weight Loss Drug, GLP-1, Leads To Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors

The 23-time Grand Slam champion admitted the experience was frustrating because she had always relied on her work ethic. “I had never taken shortcuts in my career and always worked really hard. I know what it takes to be the best,” she told PEOPLE. “So it was very frustrating to do all the same things and never be able to change that number on the scale or the way my body looked.”

After welcoming her second daughter, Adira River, in August 2023, Williams faced a similar challenge. She lost some weight in the first two weeks postpartum, but the progress quickly plateaued. “I never lost another pound,” she recalled.

Turning to GLP-1 for Support

Realizing that even her most disciplined training routine was not giving her the results she wanted, Williams decided to explore new options. That’s when she partnered with Ro, a direct-to-patient healthcare company, to begin GLP-1 treatment.

READ: How Weight Loss Drugs Change Ones Relationship With Food?

What Is GLP-1?

GLP-1 is short for glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. It is a class of medications that works in the brain to regulate appetite and satiety. Well-known brands include Ozempic and Mounjaro, both of which have generated global discussion about their effectiveness in weight management.

READ: This Naturally Occurring Molecule May Have Ozempic-like Benefits Without The Side Effects

Williams acknowledged that she was initially hesitant. “I did a lot of research on it,” she told PEOPLE. “I was like, ‘Is this a shortcut? What are the benefits? What are not the benefits?’ I really wanted to dive into it before I just did it.”

After six months, when she had stopped breastfeeding Adira, she began weekly injections with her doctor’s guidance. “They were super supportive and it was easy to get the medication,” she said. “I lost over 31 pounds using my GLP-1 and I was really excited about that weight loss.”

Now serving as a celebrity patient ambassador for Ro, Williams emphasizes that the treatment didn’t replace her active lifestyle, it enhanced it.

Feeling Stronger and More Energetic

Williams said her transformation has been about much more than the number on the scale. She’s regained energy, movement, and a sense of ease in her daily life.

“I just can do more. I'm more active. My joints don't hurt as much,” she explained. “I just feel like something as simple as just getting down is a lot easier for me. And I do it a lot faster. I feel like I have a lot of energy and it's great. I just feel pretty good about it.”

Her renewed energy has also inspired her to set new goals, including training for a half marathon.

READ: GLP-1 Drugs Could Be Used To Treat Chronic Kidney Disease

Why Serena Shared Her Story

Throughout her career, Williams has been admired for her transparency, whether on the tennis court or in her personal life. She told PEOPLE that she wanted to share her GLP-1 journey because she knows many people struggle with the same issues, regardless of their dedication to healthy living.

“GLP-1 helped me enhance everything that I was already doing, eating healthy and working out, whether it was as a professional athlete at the top level of tennis or just going to the gym every day,” she said. “So I think that it’s important for everyone to hear my story. And I feel like there's a lot of people that can relate.”

READ: Foods That Mimic Ozempic Results: Natural GLP-1 Boosters That Control Appetite

Balancing Weight Loss with Self-Love

While she is proud of her progress, Williams is equally clear that her confidence and self-worth were never tied to her weight.

READ: Trust Your Instincts, Serena Williams Urges Women To Listen To Their Bodies

“Weight loss should never really change your self image,” she said. “Women often experience judgment about their bodies at any size, and I'm no stranger to that. So I feel like you should love yourself at any size and any look.”

She added that while her heavier weight caused her some physical discomfort, including joint pain, there was nothing inherently wrong with it. “The size I was before, there was nothing wrong with it. It's just not what I wanted to have,” she said. “I just knew that I wanted to be where I personally felt comfortable.”

Teaching Her Daughters About Confidence

Williams, who shares her daughters with husband Alexis Ohanian, said she has made it a priority to talk about body image and positivity at home.

“With me going through what I've went through growing up in public and just having millions of people commenting on my body, it's really important to teach them to be confident at any size, just like I try to be,” she said.

She hopes to pass down a lesson she has learned from looking back at old photographs. “Whether I was smaller or thicker, at that moment I felt so confident. And I looked great, too. So I just think it's so important to love who you are. You'll never get that moment back. You don't want to judge yourself when you're just always showing up as your best.”

Her message is simple: health and confidence go hand in hand. “I always felt comfortable at any size,” she reflected. “But now I feel like my body is thanking me for being at a place where I can move easier, feel lighter, and do more.”

Danish pharma giant Novo Nordisk has once again reduced the prices of its blockbuster drugs Ozempic and Wegovy in India. The strategic move is aimed at staying ahead of the entry of the low-cost generic competition in the country.

Starting today, the Ozempic price in India will be cut by 36 percent, while Wegovy has seen a steeper 48 percent reduction — limiting the base price below Rs 6,000 per month.

While Ozempic is available in three dose strengths of 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, and 1 mg in India, Wegovy has five dose strengths.

Ozempic's and Wegovy's lowest doses of 0.25 ⁠mg will now be priced at Rs 1,415 for a weekly shot from Rs 2,200 and Rs 2,712 earlier, respectively, Novo Nordisk India said in a statement on Tuesday.

The average price reduction across doses is 23.8 percent for Ozempic and 27 percent for Wegovy, it added.

Speaking to the media, Novo Nordisk stated that the price cut will benefit a large section of people with diabetes and obesity in India.

The generic weight loss drugs will open up a huge customer base, especially in India, with a high burden of diabetes and obesity.

Novo first slashed Wegovy's price for the first time by up to 37 percent from its launch price last year.

In addition to the entry of generics, the launch of rival Eli Lilly's blockbuster diabetes and obesity drug Mounjaro in India in 2025.

Also read: Semaglutide Becomes Cheap In India: A Gamechanger Or Health Gamble?

Entry Of Generics In India

Soon after the end of Novo Nordisk's patent on semaglutide, on March 20, a host of companies in India launched generic versions of Ozempic.

This includes NATCO Pharma's Semanat and Semafull, priced at Rs 1,290 per month and Rs 1,750 — about 90 per cent cheaper than Ozempic, costing Rs 8,800 per month.

Eris Lifesciences also announced its plans to launch a multi-dose vial under the brand name Sundae at the same price.

Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, and Glenmark Pharmaceuticals have also launched their generic versions of semaglutide.

Dr. Reddy’s Obeda is priced at Rs 4,200 per month, available in 2 mg and 4 mg strengths.

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries will sell under the brand names Noveltreat (doses ranging from Rs 900) and Sematrinity (doses ranging from Rs 750). Meanwhile, Glenmark’s GLIPIQ vials range from Rs 325 to Rs 440 per week.

Zydus Lifesciences has also announced the launch of its generic version of semaglutide injection under the brand names SEMAGLYNTM, MASHEMATM, and ALTERMET. The average monthly cost of the treatment will be about Rs 2,200, the company said in a statement.

How Does Semaglutide Work?

Semaglutide works as a GLP-1 receptor agonist that mimics the GLP-1 hormone to regulate appetite and blood sugar. It slows gastric emptying and makes you feel fuller longer. It also signals the brain to reduce hunger and cravings, and triggers the pancreas to release insulin when blood sugar is high.

Also read: This Pill Is More Effective For Weight Loss Than Ozempic, Scientists Say

They work by increasing insulin release in a glucose-dependent manner, decreasing the liver's production of glucagon, and slowing down the emptying of the stomach, which helps lower blood sugar levels after a meal. They also act on the brain to suppress appetite and increase feelings of fullness, leading to reduced calorie intake.

In people with type 2 diabetes, notes Harvard Health, the body's cells are resistant to the effects of insulin and the body does not produce enough insulin, or both. This is when GLP-1 agonists stimulate the pancreas to release insulin and suppress the release of another hormone called glucagon.

These drugs also act in the brain to reduce hunger and act on the stomach to delay emptying, so you feel full for a longer time. These effects can lead to weight loss, which can be an important part of managing diabetes.

Health officials in the US have issued a risk of leptospirosis — a bacterial illness — in Hawaii, after the “Kona low” storm floods.

The Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) and the Hawaiian Humane Society (HHS) have urged residents and recovery workers to monitor for signs of leptospirosis that can affect both people and pets.

Leptospirosis is caused by bacteria Leptospira, which are carried in the urine of infected animals, including rats, mice, mongoose, livestock, and dogs.

The disease can spread via the urine of infected animals and can enter the human body through broken skin or through the mouth, nose, or eyes.

“Hawaii already has among the highest rates of leptospirosis in the country due to its warm, wet climate,” said HHS and DOH in a joint statement.

“Flooding events like the recent Kona low storm can dramatically increase exposure risk by spreading contaminated soil and water across a broad area,” it added.

The agency urged people to check out symptoms in pets, such as fever, decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and muscle soreness, and get medical help.

The risk of Leptospirosis outbreak is common after a storm, because the dead animals are likely to spread the bacteria. Further, flooding also forces rodents out of their burrows, leading them into homes, shelters, and debris piles where they shed bacteria more easily.

What Is Leptospirosis?

Leptospirosis is one of the most prevalent zoonotic diseases worldwide, often linked to poor sanitation and agricultural practices that involve contact with animals or contaminated water.

The bacteria can survive in contaminated water or soil for weeks to months, primarily spreading through the urine of infected animals.

Also read: With Rising Temperatures A Major Rat Infestation Is Taking Over The World- Why Is This A Health Hazard?

Humans can contract the disease through direct contact with infected urine or through contaminated food, water, or soil.

There are two main forms of leptospirosis: icteric leptospira, which presents with jaundice, and anicteric leptospira, a milder variant without jaundice. Leptospirosis can also manifest as Weil's disease, a severe complication.

What Are Symptoms Of Leptospirosis in humans?

Symptoms typically develop 2 to 30 days after exposure and can range from mild to severe. Initial signs often include

• high-grade fever,
• red eyes (conjunctival suffusion),
• calf tenderness,
• headache,
• dry cough,
• nausea,
• diarrhea.

In more serious cases, the infection can lead to complications such as

• jaundice,
• kidney damage
• liver damage,
• meningitis,
• respiratory issues,
• hemorrhages.

Pulmonary hemorrhage — acute bleeding from the lungs — can also occur, posing life-threatening risks such as respiratory and renal failure. The illness may last from a few days to several weeks, and without treatment, recovery can take months, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

What Precautions Should Be Taken?

To reduce the risk of leptospirosis infection, individuals are advised to take several important precautions. According to the CDC, it is essential to avoid wading through dirty rainwater, especially during the rainy season, and to wear gumboots in such conditions.

Proper care of any injuries or cuts is crucial, and frequent handwashing, particularly after handling food or working in potentially contaminated environments, is highly recommended. Additionally, individuals should avoid contact with animals that appear sick or are known carriers of the bacteria.

Vaccination is also vital—pet owners should ensure their pets are vaccinated against leptospirosis, especially if they are frequently exposed to water or wildlife. Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of clean water and preventing water stagnation around the home can further minimize the risk of infection.

The emerging COVID variant, BA 3.2, nicknamed “Cicada,” has revived memories of the COVID-19 pandemic that disrupted the world and raised fresh concerns about the possibility of severe illness.

The variant has been given the nickname “Cicada” due to its reappearance after remaining dormant or undetected for a long period, much like cicadas that emerge after years underground.

With the variant already spread to 23 nations, as of February, experts are urging people to use masks to avoid transmission.

What Is The Cicada COVID Variant?

Cicada was first identified in a respiratory sample in South Africa in November 2024.

It is a descendant of the Omicron BA.3 lineage, and is genetically distinct from the previously circulating JN.1 lineages (including LP.8.1 and XFG).

BA.3.2 comprises two major branches, BA.3.2.1 and BA.3.2.2. BA.3.2.2 also has substitutions like: K356T, A575S, R681H, and R1162P.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated BA.3.2 as a Variant Under Monitoring (VUM). It means the variant may not be that dangerous yet, but it may have concerning mutations.

As per the US CDC’s latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Cicada has “70 to 75 substitutions and deletions in the gene sequence of its spike protein”.

Time To Mask Up

Dr. Sai Balasubramanian, a doctor and healthcare strategy executive, writing in Forbes, stressed the need to follow COVID practices such as masks and hand hygiene.

"Healthcare professionals recommend taking general precautions, similar to those used to prevent most viral transmission: get vaccinations when appropriate, wear masks in crowded areas or indoors where there is a high risk of transmission," he said.

He also urged “avoid individuals who have known illness or infections, wash hands frequently, and continue to stay apprised of local community guidelines and the infection spread”.

Cicada variant “is different from the (Covid-19) viruses we have been dealing with for the last two years," Prof Ravi Gupta, of Cambridge University, who advised the UK government during the pandemic, was quoted as saying by The Mirror.

Will The Cicada Variant Cause Severe Illness?

The SARS-CoV-2 virus has the potential to turn deadly in people, especially among vulnerable populations such as those with a weak immune system.

The Cicada variant is particularly concerning as it provides no immune protection to people with previous infection or even vaccination.

Yet, the World Health Organization and health experts advise that existing COVID vaccinations can help prevent severe illness and hospitalization.

"It would appear that all the protections we have from our experience with the virus and with vaccines probably offer more limited—not zero—but more limited protection against this strain," Dr. William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, was quoted as saying by Time.

Cicada Variant: Any New Symptoms?

The symptoms of Cicada aren't different from those of previous COVID variants. These include:

• sore throat,
• fever or chills,
• headache,
• cough,
• body aches,
• runny nose
• nausea
• diarrhea.